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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
26 June 2023
Taunton Woman Agrees to Plead Guilty in Conspiracy to Issue Driver's Licenses to Applicants Who Did Not Take Road TestRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton woman has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) into issuing driver’s licenses to applicants who did not take the road test.
Neta Centio, 55, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging document, Centio used CashApp to pay a road test examiner at the Brockton RMV service center to misrepresent to the RMV that certain driver’s license applicants had passed their road test when in fact they did not even show up to take the test. As a result of the fraud, the RMV mailed driver’s licenses to unqualified applicants. It is alleged that after Centio’s fraud was discovered, she told the road test examiner, “Don’t say nothing about the CashApp. . . . Break the phone.”
The charge of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charging document also seeks a $20,215 forfeiture money judgment. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today. The Mattapoisett Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Adam Deitch of Levy’s Public Corruption Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South St. Paul Felon Pleads Guilty in Drug Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A South St. Paul felon has pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the defendant’s plea agreement and court documents, on December 4, 2022, Nicholas Neil Nikiforakis, 34, posted a photo on Facebook that showed him in possession of a black firearm with a tan-colored extended magazine. Law enforcement officers were able to determine Nikiforakis’s location and conducted physical surveillance. When the defendant was spotted getting behind the wheel of a black Ford Explorer, officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, but Nikiforakis rammed into a responding squad car and fled the area at a high rate of speed. He eventually crashed as he attempted a high-speed turn, hit a fire hydrant, and collided with a nearby building. The defendant fled on foot but was ultimately apprehended at the scene. A subsequent search of the black Ford Explorer revealed a black and dark green privately made firearm or “ghost gun” – with a tan-colored extended magazine in the center console with a large black bag that contained fentanyl pills, marijuana, and a digital scale.
Nikiforakis pleaded guilty on June 23, 2023, in U.S. District Court before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing is prosecuting the case.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael E. Robbins, II, age 27, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Robbins previously pled guilty to the offense on February 13, 2023, the day his trial was scheduled to begin. Robbins admitted that between February and March 2021, he exchanged sexually explicit messages online with an undercover officer posing as a 12-year old girl, in an attempt to entice the child into engaging in sexual acts with him. Robbins admitted that he initiated the conversations with the minor after locating her in an online chat group for teens in the 518 area code. Robbins further admitted that he arranged to meet the minor on March 18, 2021 at a bowling alley in Latham, New York, and he traveled to the bowling alley on that date with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the 12-year-old child. Robbins was arrested by law enforcement shortly after arriving at the location.
Robbins will be required to register as a sex offender and will serve a 15-year term of post-release supervision when he is released from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department and New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Salina Couple Convicted of Child Abuse and NeglectRead the Press Release
TULSA – On Friday June 23, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Amanda Irene Smith, 44, and Joel Richard Smith, 48, for Child Abuse in Indian Country and Child Neglect in Indian Country following a four-day trial. The jury deliberated into the evening.
“The abuse of children will never be tolerated or go unpunished,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson. “The years of abuse the victim suffered at the hands of those she should have been able to trust is both heartbreaking and unconscionable. My office and our law enforcement partners are committed to prosecuting perpetrators of child abuse.”
According to the victim’s testimony presented at trial, she “escaped” to a neighboring home on April 5, 2019, when she was 9 years old. She was filthy, in need of medical attention and extremely hungry. She was wearing a diaper and showed signs of physical abuse, and the neighbor alerted authorities. The victim, who weighed 41 pounds and was wearing a toddler size-four t-shirt, was hospitalized for a week to treat malnutrition and inflections from her wounds. The Mayes County Sheriff’s Office investigation showed that the defendants routinely denied the victim food and access to the bathroom, handcuffed her to a “pack n’ play,” and beat her with a belt and livestock whip. Testimony at trial also revealed the defendants forced her to work outside moving rocks and dirt with her hands, pulling weeds and picking up sticks for several hours at a time.
Previously released on bond prior to trial, the couple was permitted to remain on bond for two weeks and self-report to federal custody for formal sentencing.
U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman presided over trial and sentencing is yet to be scheduled. At that time, both face up to life in federal prison.
Mayes County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Melody Nelson prosecuted the case.
Riverside County Tax Preparer Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Preparing False Returns that Caused over $3 Million in Losses to IRSRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Inland Empire tax preparer was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for knowingly filing thousands of tax returns that falsely claimed deductions, such as fake medical expenses and bogus mortgage interest, and which caused more than $3 million in losses to the IRS.
Andrew Zepeda Hansack, 40, of Riverside, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson, who said Hansack’s crimes were “one of the most serious offenses I’ve encountered while on the bench.”
In addition to the six-year prison term, Judge Wilson ordered Hansack to pay a $50,000 fine and $3,369,886 in restitution.
Hansack pleaded guilty on February 27 to two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. Judge Wilson imposed the statutory maximum sentence for each of the two counts.
Starting in January 2015, Hansack prepared personal income tax returns at AJ Loyal Income Tax Service, a Riverside-based company. Hansack filed tax returns for some of his clients that included false itemized deductions. Specifically, Hansack filed tax returns for these clients that indicated they had paid mortgage interest for their homes, when in truth, as Hansack knew, his clients did not own a home. Hansack also claimed false medical expenses, sales tax, and gifts by cash or check on some tax returns he prepared that he knew to be false.
For the tax years 2015 through 2019, Hansack filed approximately 2,533 tax returns with false deductions on behalf of his clients, according to court documents. Because of Hansack’s criminal activity, the IRS was prevented from assessing and collecting the correct amount of taxes owed by the clients. Judge Wilson found that the IRS suffered losses of approximately $3.37 million.
For example, in February 2020, Hansack aided and assisted the preparation of a federal income tax return for a South Gate resident. This tax return falsely claimed $30,488 in itemized deductions, including deductions for mortgage interest. The false and fraudulent deductions caused the South Gate taxpayer to claim a refund from the IRS in the amount of $7,318 to which the taxpayer was not entitled.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Mitchell of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
Readout from United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez’s Violent Crime Listening Session with Community Leaders in the International DistrictRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, federal prosecutors, and other staff from the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) met with representatives from organizations that serving Albuquerque’s International District (ID) last week at the International District Library to discuss violent crime. John Bulten, Co-Executive Director of East Central Ministries, Sachi Watase, Executive Director of the New Mexico Asian Family Center (NMAFC), Khadijah Asili Bottom, the founder of Vizionz-Sankofa, and Will Williams, a community coordinator from Vizionz-Sankofa, presented statements. This listening session focused on violent crime, community-based solutions, and the relationship between law enforcement and the community. This was the first of a series of listening sessions to be held throughout the Albuquerque this summer.
United States Attorney Uballez opened the session by asking how the Department of Justice could support the ID in confronting violence. Participants described the link between violence and fentanyl trafficking, use, and addiction, and the need for additional resources in the ID—from funding community organizations to increasing law enforcement visibility. Others described a harrowing federal grant process that felt incongruous with the level to which federal law enforcement relies on their organizations. All participants emphasized the importance of building authentic relationships between law enforcement and the community.
John Bulten and Will Williams described how fentanyl changed the violent crime landscape. “I’ve seen how quickly and aggressively . . . fentanyl took over and just it's deteriorating these people out here and it's causing a lot of the violence,” said Williams. “If fentanyl isn't made like a public health emergency,” Williams added, “everything we're talking about now is going to be ten times worse five years from now.”
Sachi Watase highlighted the importance of building trust in the Pan-Asian community. Following an arrest, she said, the “tension does not disappear.” Watase described how language barriers, a lack of cultural competency, and a reactive approach to enforcement stand in the way of authentic relationships with the Asian community in New Mexico. Watase also expressed frustration with the federal grant process. She described the heavy reliance of federal law enforcement on NMAFC for translation, intelligence, and community connection and contrasted it against the onerous process of seeking federal grants. “It is too much for us to constantly have to . . . go through a competitive process when we're the only ones who are doing this and [federal law enforcement] need us to do it.” said Sachi Watase. “We know that these [federal law enforcement] entities trust us and that we're doing a good job because they're the ones who are asking us to do this.”
All participants stressed the importance of authentic investment in the ID. Khadijah Asili Bottom stated that, “[I]t'll take time . . . to get the trust of the community. So, I think that’s a cool thing to start having and being visible at community functions.” Williams complemented Albuquerque Community Safety’s Violence Intervention Program, describing community walks as a critical way to achieve a positive police presence and avoid over-policing.
This was the first in a series of listening sessions USA Uballez will convene in the coming months as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program. USA Uballez will meet with community leaders from the Westgate community, service providers for the unhoused, social justice advocates, addiction and treatment service providers, and families impacted by violent crime. These sessions are an opportunity for the USA, federal prosecutors, and USAO staff to recognize the vital role that these leaders, providers and advocates play in our community.
PSN is an evidence-based program proven effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. In New Mexico, the United States Attorney’s Office pursues a community violence intervention approach. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally-based intervention, prevention, and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
(left to right) AUSA Tom Aliberti, Sachi Watase, EAUSA Aja Brooks, Law Enforcement Coordinator Specialist Alyssa Skrepcinski, USA Uballez, FAUSA Holland Kastrin, AUSA Paul Mysliwiec, AUSA Kim Bell, AUSA David Hirsch, Khadijah Asili Bottom, Will Williams and AUSA Nora Williams.
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23-134
Readout from United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez’s Violent Crime Listening Session with Community Leaders in the International DistrictRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, federal prosecutors, and other staff from the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) met with representatives from organizations that serving Albuquerque’s International District (ID) last week at the International District Library to discuss violent crime. John Bulten, Co-Executive Director of East Central Ministries, Sachi Watase, Executive Director of the New Mexico Asian Family Center (NMAFC), Khadijah Asili Bottom, the founder of Vizionz-Sankofa, and Will Williams, a community coordinator from Vizionz-Sankofa, presented statements. This listening session focused on violent crime, community-based solutions, and the relationship between law enforcement and the community. This was the first of a series of listening sessions to be held throughout the Albuquerque this summer.
United States Attorney Uballez opened the session by asking how the Department of Justice could support the ID in confronting violence. Participants described the link between violence and fentanyl trafficking, use, and addiction, and the need for additional resources in the ID—from funding community organizations to increasing law enforcement visibility. Others described a harrowing federal grant process that felt incongruous with the level to which federal law enforcement relies on their organizations. All participants emphasized the importance of building authentic relationships between law enforcement and the community.
John Bulten and Will Williams described how fentanyl changed the violent crime landscape. “I’ve seen how quickly and aggressively . . . fentanyl took over and just it's deteriorating these people out here and it's causing a lot of the violence,” said Williams. “If fentanyl isn't made like a public health emergency,” Williams added, “everything we're talking about now is going to be ten times worse five years from now.”
Sachi Watase highlighted the importance of building trust in the Pan-Asian community. Following an arrest, she said, the “tension does not disappear.” Watase described how language barriers, a lack of cultural competency, and a reactive approach to enforcement stand in the way of authentic relationships with the Asian community in New Mexico. Watase also expressed frustration with the federal grant process. She described the heavy reliance of federal law enforcement on NMAFC for translation, intelligence, and community connection and contrasted it against the onerous process of seeking federal grants. “It is too much for us to constantly have to . . . go through a competitive process when we're the only ones who are doing this and [federal law enforcement] need us to do it.” said Sachi Watase. “We know that these [federal law enforcement] entities trust us and that we're doing a good job because they're the ones who are asking us to do this.”
All participants stressed the importance of authentic investment in the ID. Khadijah Asili Bottom stated that, “[I]t'll take time . . . to get the trust of the community. So, I think that’s a cool thing to start having and being visible at community functions.” Williams complemented Albuquerque Community Safety’s Violence Intervention Program, describing community walks as a critical way to achieve a positive police presence and avoid over-policing.
This was the first in a series of listening sessions USA Uballez will convene in the coming months as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program. USA Uballez will meet with community leaders from the Westgate community, service providers for the unhoused, social justice advocates, addiction and treatment service providers, and families impacted by violent crime. These sessions are an opportunity for the USA, federal prosecutors, and USAO staff to recognize the vital role that these leaders, providers and advocates play in our community.
PSN is an evidence-based program proven effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. In New Mexico, the United States Attorney’s Office pursues a community violence intervention approach. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally-based intervention, prevention, and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
(left to right) AUSA Tom Aliberti, Sachi Watase, EAUSA Aja Brooks, Law Enforcement Coordinator Specialist Alyssa Skrepcinski, USA Uballez, FAUSA Holland Kastrin, AUSA Paul Mysliwiec, AUSA Kim Bell, AUSA David Hirsch, Khadijah Asili Bottom, Will Williams and AUSA Nora Williams.
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23-134
Putnam County Man Pleads Guilty to Making False Declaration in Bankruptcy CaseRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – William Howard Gregory, 73, of Scott Depot, pleaded guilty today to knowingly and fraudulently making a false declaration in a bankruptcy case.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 1, 2018, Gregory filed false documents in his bankruptcy case that failed to disclose the existence of five life insurance policies with the collective surrender value of approximately $235,000. Gregory admitted that he knew he was required to disclose the existence of his policies and chose not to disclose them.
Gregory is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The U.S. Trustee’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia made the criminal referral of this case to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The United States Trustee Program is the component of the Department of Justice that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-95.
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Prince George’s County Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for a Conspiracy to Obtain over $1 Million in COVID-19 CARES Act Loans and Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Jerry Phillips, a/k/a “Tian Juzo,” age 25, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and illegal possession of a machine gun, related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $1 million in COVID-19 CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program loan applications (“PPP”), Economic Injury Disaster loan applications (“EIDL”), and unemployment insurance claims. Judge Chuang also ordered Phillips to pay restitution of $1,235,213.
The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”); Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Washington, D.C. Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General (“SBA-OIG”), Eastern Region, and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Pittano, of the Mid-Atlantic Region, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (“FDIC-OIG”).
“Once again, the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office’s COVID fraud enforcement strategy is taking illegal guns out of the hands of criminals,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron. “This case highlights two of our office priorities—taking illegal guns off the streets and holding accountable those who fraudulently took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to line their pockets.”
According to his plea agreement, from March 2020 to February 2022, Phillips worked with his brother and co-defendant, Jaleel Phillips, and at least one other person. to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 related benefits, including filing fraudulent PPP loan applications, EIDL loan applications, and unemployment insurance claims. As detailed in the statement of facts, Phillips and his co-conspirators created fictitious aliases, used the personal identifying information of real people, and used defunct corporate entities or new business entities with no actual business operations to apply for PPP and EIDL loans, and unemployment benefits.
As part of the scheme, Phillips admitted that he created and used multiple fake identities to submit fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications and used the personal identifying information of more than 20 real people in furtherance of fraudulent unemployment claims. The fraudulently obtained PPP and EIDL loans and unemployment insurance claims were deposited into the bank accounts opened in the names of the aliases. The money was then withdrawn by Phillips and his co-conspirators through ATM withdrawals and purchases made on the associated debit and credit cards or transferred between the various financial accounts established in the aliases’ names. Phillips used $65,538.95 of the fraudulently obtained funds to purchase a 2020 Chevrolet Camaro, which he registered in his name at the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Jerry Phillips also admitted that he personally obtained and controlled more than $1 million in fraud proceeds from the fraudulent PPPs and EIDLs.
A search of the defendant’s residence recovered more than 25 fake driver’s licenses from multiple states and multiple identification documents from different jurisdictions with Jerry Phillips’ photograph and the same alias. Law enforcement also recovered four “ghost guns” which Jerry Phillips purchased online, using an alias. Phillips admitted that he illegally modified one of the ghost guns into a machine gun capable of firing multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger.
Jaleel Phillips, age 25, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the wire fraud conspiracy and was sentenced on June 22, 2023, to 30 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,142,769.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of three strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, SBA-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office for their work in the investigation and thanked the Office of Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch-Public Integrity Division, for its assistance. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Gruber, who is prosecuting the case and recognized the assistance of the Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Plaquemines Parish Men Indicted for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances and Federal Gun Control ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JORDAN MEAUX, age 32, and LEON THOMPSON, age 38, both residents of Plaquemines Parish, were charged on June 22, 2023, in a four-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846, and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. MEAUX was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
If convicted of the conspiracy count, MEAUX AND THOMPSON each face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. If convicted of the possession with intent to distribute counts, MEAUX and THOMPSON each face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years up to a maximum term of imprisonment of forty years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. If convicted of the felon in possession count, MEAUX faces a maximum term of imprisonment of fifteen years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release. As to each charged count, MEAUX and THOMPSON also face payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
Placerville Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Possessing 27 Dogs for FightingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Carlos Villasenor, 40, of Placerville, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for possession of dogs for use in an animal fighting venture, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Villasenor was also ordered to pay a $5,500 fine and a $2,700 special assessment.
According to court documents, Villasenor operated a dog breeding business in which he bred dogs from a number of well-known and desirable dogfighting bloodlines. Villasenor transported dogs between California and Mexico for dogfighting, trained dogs for dogfighting on his property in Placerville, and sold dogs to buyers primarily outside California.
In September 2020, the sound of dogfighting, with humans egging the dogs on, could be heard from Villasenor’s Placerville property. In June 2021, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant at Villasenor’s property and seized 27 pit bull-type dogs, one of whom had injuries to its face consistent with an attack from another dog. Agents also seized one chihuahua mix that was used as a “bait dog.” Approximately half the dogs were tethered by heavy chains and spaced so that they could see one another, but not reach one another, in order to frustrate the dogs and foster aggression. Many of the dogs had untreated veterinary conditions. Numerous implements of the dogfighting trade were found on the property, including a breeding stand, treadmills, and veterinary supplies including skin staplers, antibiotics, syringes, and IV bags. In his plea agreement in December 2022, Villasenor surrendered his interest in the dogs and property seized by law enforcement.
Evidence in the case, including phone records, showed that Villasenor engaged in the sale of dogs for profit, selling dogs both within and outside California. Villasenor used his reputation to build a clientele outside of the West Coast, for the purpose of keeping his dogs outside the hands of his competition in the Bay Area. He also traveled to Mexico to further the illegal sport. His history in the business of breeding, selling, and fighting dogs dates back to at least 2009.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with assistance from El Dorado County Animal Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Hemesath prosecuted the case.
Physician assistant admits to unlawful practice of medicineRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 50-year-old Brownsville man has pleaded guilty to health care fraud in relation to his work at an area mental health clinic, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
In July 2021, the Texas Medical Board deemed Fernando Mendez a “continuing threat to public welfare” and suspended his license as a physician assistant.
However, he continued to practice medicine at CCI Therapy Counseling Centers International P.C. (CCI), which has locations in Harlingen and Brownsville, following the suspension.
Mendez further admitted he manufactured medical records to make it appear a different medical provider had seen CCI patients when he was the one who had actually done so.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. accepted the plea and will impose sentencing Oct. 2. At that time, Mendez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Mendez was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (OIG), Texas Health and Human Services, Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Department of Homeland Security-OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz is prosecuting the case.
Pharmacist Convicted of Stealing and Selling COVID-19 CardsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Chicago convicted an Illinois pharmacist on Friday for stealing and selling COVID-19 vaccination cards.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, pharmacist Tangtang Zhao, 36, of Chicago, stole CDC-issued COVID-19 vaccination cards from the pharmacy where he worked, and sold them to buyers across the country through an online marketplace. Zhao and other pharmacists administered COVID-19 vaccinations to the public, and therefore Zhao had access to vaccination cards at the pharmacy. During a three-week timeframe in March and April 2021, Zhao posted listings for over 650 COVID-19 vaccination cards that he advertised as “authentic” and “straight from the CDC.” In total, he sold 630 cards to approximately 200 unique buyers, who paid Zhao more than $5,600.
The jury convicted Zhao of 12 counts of theft of government property. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 28 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Claire Sobczak and Victor Yanz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant Chief Leslie S. Garthwaite investigated the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Peru Man Sentenced to 110 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Curtis Birner, 37 years old, of Peru, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. after being found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm following a two-day jury trial in January, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Birner was sentenced to 110 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in October 2021, Birner entered a Peru gas station with a gun concealed in his sweatshirt. He displayed the firearm to another person prompting a call to law enforcement. At the time law enforcement located Birner, he was in a car in the parking lot of a different gas station with a rifle and handgun on his seat along with shotgun in the back seat area. Birner has been convicted of several prior felony offenses, including a federal conviction for felon in possession of a firearm. Any one of his prior felony convictions prohibited Birner from possessing the firearms in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Miami County Sheriff’s Department and the Peru Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jerome W. McKeever and Katelan M. Doyle.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Operation Take Aim: U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF Dallas, Dallas PD Announce Summer Volent Crime InitiativeRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office – in partnership with ATF Dallas and the Dallas Police Department – today announced Operation Take Aim, a collaborative initiative designed to curb violent crime by federally prosecuting offenders most likely to harm the community when at large and by proactively engaging with these offenders to discourage them from committing further crimes and entering the federal system.
Building on the office’s already strong collaboration with ATF Dallas, the Dallas Police Department, and other state and local law enforcement partners, Operation Take Aim has two components. First, it complements law enforcement’s earlier efforts – which focused primarily on specific locations – by zeroing in on the most dangerous repeat offenders with violent criminal histories and prosecuting their crimes federally.
Second, it involves holding deterrence programs called “Reentry Nights” for individuals in the state criminal justice system. Reentry Night programming encourages these offenders to pursue an education or other productive life path and deters them from committing more crimes. Take Aim also bolsters federal involvement in initiatives like the Dallas Police Department’s Focused Deterrence sessions, which seek to provide support services to a specific set of offenders identified by data as most likely to reoffend.
The United States Attorney’s Office has already ramped up coordination with Dallas Police and ATF to vet each violent crime case within the jurisdiction’s borders and determine which should be prosecuted federally. (Federal charges carry significantly stiffer sentences on some crimes than state charges do, and there is no possibility of parole.)
Because the coordination involves constant collaboration between federal prosecutors and other state and local agencies, the office is devoting even more prosecutors to handling these cases.
Operation Take Aim builds on Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia’s focused deterrence program, an initiative funded in part by a Justice Department grant that endeavors to change the behavior of high-risk offenders through a combination of deterrence, incapacitation (arrest), and community involvement.
“Given a foothold, violent crime rips through communities. Our neighbors turn into casualties. Talk to any violent crime survivor and they’ll tell you: Their blood pressure never quite returns to normal. Once you’ve been victimized, life always feels precarious, no matter where you go,” U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton said at a press conference at the Earle Cabell Federal Building Monday morning.
“If we believe someone presents a heightened risk of continued violence, we will take their case federally,” Ms. Simonton said. “When you commit a violent crime, all of us are on the case. And together, we have the manpower, the technology, and the expertise to apprehend you, prosecute you, and put you behind bars.”
“It takes all of us to fight and prevent crime and criminal activity,” Chief Garcia said. “It doesn't matter if offenders commit acts of violence themselves, with a gang, a crew, a posse, or who they hang out with. We have made it our business to learn about individuals causing violence in Dallas. Re-offending is not an option, and we will not let violent activity become the status quo in Dallas.”
“Every one of these cases causes trauma. We are committed to putting these people in jail. ATF has doubled down here in Dallas,” said ATF Dallas Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Boshek. “Nowhere in the country is there the support and the cooperation amongst federal prosecutors, state prosecutors, police departments, and the feds like there is here in north Texas. We’re committed to helping make Dallas and north Texas safer.”
Of particular interest to Take Aim officers, agents, and prosecutors are gun crimes, including prohibited person in possession of a firearm, unlicensed dealing, straw purchasing, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
At Monday’s press conference, Ms. Simonton, the district’s chief federal law enforcement officer, announced that the Northern District of Texas is on track to convict substantially more firearm offenders than in previous years. (The district, which has historically convicted around 400 firearm offenders each year, consistently ranks among the top five districts in the nation for gun-crime cases filed. The district’s gun crime conviction rate stands at 97 percent – four percentage points higher than the national average.)
One such case is U.S. v Suttles. Javier Dominque Suttles, 26, had already plead guilty in the state system to two robberies and been placed on deferred adjudication and community supervision. During his time under supervision, he allegedly committed three armed robberies over the course of just five days. Each time, he brandished a handgun with an extended magazine and menaced store employees. During one incident, Mr. Suttles – apparently frustrated that there wasn’t more cash on the premises -- allegedly ordered an employee into the bathroom and forced the employee to strip naked.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas charged Mr. Suttles with two federal crimes: Interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. A federal judge immediately ordered him detained pending trial. Mr. Suttles is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law; if convicted, however, he faces up to 27 years in federal prison.
In addition to prosecuting gun crimes and building up deterrence programs, federal agents and prosecutors will be taking part in community initiatives including those endorsed by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson’s Summer of Safety program.
Operation Take Aim comports with United State Attorney General Merrick Garland’s directive to U.S. Attorneys to prioritize combatting gun violence and other violent crime.
Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Latesha Lashae Nappier, 29, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Nappier admitted to her role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Nappier admitted to conspiring with others to distribute quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl between November 2022 and March 22, 2023. Nappier lived with one of her co-defendants in Charleston during that time. Nappier admitted that this co-defendant had her sell the controlled substances to individuals while he was at work and collect the payments from the sales. Nappier would later give the money to this co-defendant.
On January 30, 2023, Nappier’s co-defendant directed her by phone to sell methamphetamine to a female customer. Nappier admitted to selling approximately 10.5 grams of methamphetamine to the customer as instructed at her residence in exchange for $160.
Nappier is scheduled to be sentenced on October 12, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
Nappier is among 30 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement has seized of well over 200 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 28 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of fentanyl, 18 firearms and $747,000 in cash.
Ten other co-defendants have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-31.
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Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Nathaniel Jarvis Kennard, 39, of South Point, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 12, 2022, Kennard sold approximately 20 grams of fentanyl for $1,000 to a confidential informant at a location on U.S. Route 60 in Huntington. Kennard admitted to that transaction and further admitted to five additional transactions with the confidential informant between July 20 and September 21, 2022. Kennard sold a total of approximately 82 grams of fentanyl, 10 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, and 10 grams of methamphetamine during these transactions.
On September 28, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington residence where Kennard lived. During the search, officers found approximately 96 grams of fentanyl and 274 grams of methamphetamine in a vacant lot across the road from the residence. Kennard admitted that he hid the controlled substances in the vacant lot and intended to distribute them. Kennard told officers that he had distributed controlled substances “off and on” in the Huntington area for at least the previous three years.
Kennard is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor are prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-189.
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New Orleans Man Sentenced for Drug and Weapons ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On June 22, 2023, BRIAN TARDY, age 31, a resident of Orleans Parish, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe to 106 months of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $300 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to a three-count superseding bill of information, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
Count One charged TARDY with possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(D). Count Two charged TARDY with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1). Count Three charged TARDY with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, on July 8, 2021, NOPD was conducting proactive surveillance in New Orleans East. While doing so, officers witnessed TARDY exit and re-enter a vehicle with an assault rifle. Upon discovering that the vehicle was uninsured, NOPD conducted a traffic stop and saw marijuana in plain view and detected strong smell of same. After arresting TARDY, officers discovered additional marijuana on his person and obtained a search warrant for the vehicle. During the execution of the warrant, officers located the same assault rifle TARDY was seen with, along with other controlled substances.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit .
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KIRK ODOMS, age 36, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on June 22, 2023 before United States District Judge Susie Morgan to drug and gun charges contained in an indictment previously returned against him. Specifically, he pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) and Felon in Possession of a Firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
The Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine charge carries a term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release. The Felon in Possession of a Firearm charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each offense also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
Sentencing for ODOMS is set for September 26, 2023.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Violent Crime Unit is handling the prosecution of this case.
New Orleans Man Indicted for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DATAYNA HOWARD, age 21, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was indicted on June 22, 2023, for violating the Federal Gun Control and Federal Controlled Substances Acts, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
HOWARD is charged in Count 1 of the indictment with possession with intent to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(D). He is charged in Count 2 with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).
If convicted of Count 1 HOWARD faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, up to a $1,000,000 fine, at least three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. If convicted of Count 2, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, up to five years of supervised release and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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New Haven Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DUANE FILYAW, 40, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine and heroin.
This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, FBI and New Haven Police Department that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine, and seizures of bulk heroin and cocaine. The investigation revealed that Filyaw operated a heroin and cocaine trafficking ring in which he conspired with others to purchase narcotics from suppliers and then distribute the drugs to other suppliers of street-level dealers in and around New Haven.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 500 grams of heroin, more than 300 grams of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of cocaine, three firearms, over $90,000 in cash, vehicles, jewelry and precious metals.
On April 19, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Filyaw and 18 other individuals with narcotics trafficking offenses.
Filyaw was arrested on April 25, 2018. On February 13, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and five kilograms or more of cocaine.
The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The Connecticut Department of Correction, Milford Police Department and East Haven Police Department have assisted the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Mexican National Sentenced to Serve 135 Months in Federal Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
More than 40 Pounds of Powder Fentanyl Seized from Oklahoma Traffic Stop
OKLAHOMA CITY – Earlier this week, JULIA ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ ORTEGA, 31, a Mexican national living in California at the time of her arrest, was sentenced to serve more than 11 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On March 15, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment against Rodriguez Ortega. Count 1 charged her with drug conspiracy and Count 2 charged her with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. On July 1, 2022, Rodriguez Ortega pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment.
At a sentencing hearing on June 20, 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Scott Palk sentenced Rodriguez Ortega to serve 135 months in federal prison. In support of his sentence, Judge Palk cited, among other things, the serious nature of the offense and Rodriguez Ortega’s repeated pattern of smuggling drugs into the United States from Mexico. Judge Palk also ordered that upon release from prison, Rodriguez Ortega must serve five years of supervised release. Rodriguez Ortega has been in federal custody since her arrest on February 9, 2022.
The United States introduced records at Rodriguez Ortega’s sentencing hearing showing that she had been documented driving cars loaded with drugs into the United States from Mexico on several occasions since 2020. However, due to Rodriguez Ortega conducting “driver swaps” she was able to evade capture. On February 9, 2022, while driving through Oklahoma, Rodriguez Ortega was stopped by Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics agents who eventually searched Rodriguez Ortega’s car and found over 40 pounds of powder fentanyl. The United States presented evidence at an earlier hearing that the amount of fentanyl possessed by Rodriguez Ortega equated to 9 million fatal doses and had an approximate street value of $10,000,000.
This case was the result of an investigation by the HSI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Leverett.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Madera Methamphetamine TransactionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jesus Alberto Reyes-Parra, 31, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Reyes-Parra brought nearly 50 pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover drug transaction in Madera following negotiations by a third party for the sale of 50 pounds of methamphetamine for $125,000. Following a traffic stop of Reyes-Parra’s vehicle, a law enforcement officer recovered the methamphetamine and located a stolen Colt .38 caliber handgun with a loaded magazine inserted in the center console of the vehicle.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team, a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiative task force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
Reyes-Parra is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Oct. 10, 2023. Reyes-Parra faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, as well as a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Methamphetamine Trafficking on Menominee Indian Reservation Leads to Five-year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Peter J. Boyd (age: 36), formerly of Keshena on the Menominee Indian Reservation, received a sentence totaling five years following a conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The sentence, imposed on June 21, 2023, by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, was the result of a guilty plea entered by the defendant on March 30, 2023. Boyd will also face five years of supervised release once he completes his prison sentence.
An investigation revealed that on October 15, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence on SE Bass Lake Road, which is on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The warrant was based on several weeks of drug activity occurring at the house. Officers seized a total of 111 grams of methamphetamine, scales and other paraphernalia associated with the use and sale of illegal drugs, over $2,000 in cash, along with nine firearms.
In sentencing the defendant, Judge Griesbach noted the seriousness of the crime the defendant committed and remarked upon the need to deter those who might consider similar actions to protect the community from the destructive effects of abuse of controlled substances.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, with assistance from the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office, Menominee Conservation Department, and Shawano County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted the case in United States District Court.
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Member of Violent Bridgeport Gang Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
TYRONE MOORE, also known as “Ty Ralph Lauren,” 21, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 250 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang and his role in the murder of a rival in July 2019.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Moore has been a member of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns. The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport. These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End.
Moore and other East End members distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed at least six murders and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals. East End members celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
On July 5, 2022, Moore pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity and specifically admitted that, on July 12, 2019, he and another East End member shot and killed Sean Warren, also known as “Kujoe,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang.
Moore has been detained since October 4, 2019.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Trafficking FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Massachusetts man was sentenced in federal court for conspiring to traffic firearms, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Julius Clemente, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCaffery to the statutory maximum penalty of 60 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On February 9, 2023, Clemente pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking.
“The defendant’s criminal conduct resulted in more than two dozen firearms being illegally trafficked into Massachusetts,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The consequences of his crime led to a juvenile being armed with a weapon, a weapon that was used in multiple shootings, one of which injured another juvenile. In addition, the defendant’s crime was motivated by pure greed. The imposition of the highest possible sentence under the law sends a clear message that such conduct will result in a significant period of imprisonment.”
“Trafficking firearms results in additional crimes being committed and this sentence demonstrates ATF’s continued perseverance to stopping these crimes,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson.
Clemente conspired to traffic 25 firearms, four of which have since been recovered in Massachusetts. One of the firearms was recovered from the waistband of a 14-year-old boy. That firearm was previously used in four shootings in Boston, including a non-fatal shooting of a 16-year-old. The defendant’s text messages indicated that he identified customers, controlled pricing, kept a substantial portion of the profits, and destroyed firearm serial numbers, making them harder for law enforcement to trace. In addition, the defendant solicited a drug customer to serve as a straw purchaser of firearms.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Seth R. Aframe prosecuted the case.
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Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robbery of a Walgreens Pharmacy in LawrenceRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Tremond Blakey, 26, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 8 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to court documents, on July 1, 2022, at approximately 11:39 am, Tremond Blakey entered the Walgreens at 4555 North Shadeland Avenue, approached the pharmacy counter, and presented the technician with a note that read: “I am armed and Dangerous. Give me all the Percocet, 10mg all oxy 30mg. No alarms.”
Blakey brandished a semiautomatic pistol following the presentation of the note and pointed it toward the ground. The technician passed the note to the pharmacist, who retrieved four bottles of Oxycodone and gave them to Blakey. Immediately, the pharmacist called 911 and informed a Lawrence Police Department (LPD) dispatcher of the situation.
An LPD patrol officer was in the vicinity of the Walgreens and immediately responded to the report of the robbery. As Blakey ran from the pharmacy counter towards the exit, he encountered the responding officer. Blakey initially did not comply but was eventually taken into custody.
During a search of Blakey’s person, the officer located a loaded,.45 caliber semiautomatic pistol in the front pocket of his hoodie and the bag containing the four stolen bottles of prescription pills.
“Armed criminals who terrorize our people must be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “I am thankful for the quick reaction of the responding Lawrence Police Department officer in preventing the defendant from getting away with his crime and further endangering the public. The serious federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates our commitment to working closely with our partners at the FBI, LPD and all of federal, state, and local law enforcement as we seek to reduce gun violence.”
“This defendant’s reckless and violent actions put law-abiding citizens in danger,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI is grateful for the partnership with the Lawrence Police Department in this case, and we will continue to collaborate with all state and local law enforcements agencies to take armed criminals off the streets of our communities.”
“Due in large part to the excellent work of the first responding LPD officer, and our ongoing collaborative efforts through Project Safe Neighborhoods between LPD, FBI, and the US Attorney’s Office, another individual who was caught in the act of committing a violent crime, has been held accountable through a criminal conviction in US District Court,” said LPD Deputy Chief Gary Woodruff. “Our streets are safer due to these ongoing efforts,” Chief Woodruff concluded.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Lawrence Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Blakey be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Spree of Violent, Armed Robberies of Three Indianapolis BusinessesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Alfred Cunningham, 28, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to court documents, from January 16, 2021, to February 4, 2021, Cunningham robbed three Indianapolis businesses while armed with a firearm.
On January 16, 2021, at about 8:50 p.m., Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers were dispatched to a Dollar General store on Rockville Road in Indianapolis for an armed robbery. During the robbery, Cunningham entered the store, pointed a handgun at employees and forced them to remove money from the safe and the registers. Cunningham also stole an employee’s cellphone and wallet, which contained identification and credit cards.
On January 20, 2021, at about 8:25 PM, IMPD officers were dispatched to the Phillips 66 located on W. Washington Street for an armed robbery. When officers arrived, an employee described the robbery, stating that Cunningham pointed a semiautomatic pistol at him and yelled “give up the money.” The employee opened the register, removed the cash, and handed it to Cunningham. Cunningham ordered him to open the safe. The employee told Cunningham that there was no safe, but Cunningham forced him into the office and again ordered him to open it. The employee again stated there was no safe and opened a file cabinet. Cunningham ran from the store with cash from the register.
On February 4, 2021, at 8:27pm, IMPD officers were dispatched to a Dollar General on Washington Street for another robbery. Cunningham approached an employee and asked her about rope, razors, and a few other items, then purchased the items and continue to browse the store. Cunningham approached the counter again with a black handgun and demanded the employees open the safe. He told the employees “I will shoot you, but I don’t want to.” Cunningham grabbed an employee by the shoulder, pushed her down, and ordered her to open the safe and the register. He again fled the scene.
That same evening, around 8:45pm, an IMPD officer found Cunningham walking near the 5600 block of Ray Street. After a brief physical struggle, Cunningham was arrested. Officers located the black handgun used in the last robbery in Cunningham’s right pant leg near the ankle, loaded with six rounds, and $235 in cash.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, and IMPD Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.
“The outcomes of these robberies could have been very different, even deadly, given the use of a loaded gun. No one should fear for their lives while they are simply doing their jobs,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “I commend IMPD and the FBI for putting an end to these robberies and ensuring that those who terrorize our communities with gun violence are held accountable.”
FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Cunningham be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and pay $4,435 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence T. Hilton, who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Logan County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Anthony Ryan Webb, 42, of Logan County, was sentenced today to three years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for the distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Webb admitted to distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on May 3, 2021, in Ethel. At the time, Webb was an employee with the United States Postal Service. As a result of his job duties, Webb had access to packages that had been placed in the United States Mail and was responsible for sorting out packages that had been damaged in transit. Webb admitted that he stole approximately 1 pound of methamphetamine from a package which he then sold to the confidential informant.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the West Virginia State Police.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy B. Wolfe and Alex Hamner prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-123.
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Leader of Southwest Florida Drug Ring Sentenced to More Than 11 Years Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Genaro Deleon, III (45, Lehigh Acres) to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2023. Earlier, co-defendants Michael Lee Faz (44, Labelle), Abel Deleon (45, Labelle), and Genaro Deleon, Jr. (63, Labelle) were sentenced for the same offense. Faz was sentenced to 10 years and 1 month in federal prison, Abel Deleon was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in federal prison, and Genaro Deleon, Jr. was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison. Each of the four defendants had previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge.
According to court documents, Deleon, III was the leader of a drug ring distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in Lee and Hendry Counties. To hinder law enforcement investigations into the organization, Deleon, III buried and otherwise obscured the organization’s stash of methamphetamine in multiple locations in the woods around his secluded property, which was protected by loose dogs and a network of motion sensing cameras.
Deleon, III employed his father, Deleon, Jr., and his two uncles, Abel Deleon and Faz, as dealers for the organization who typically made sales to customers and collected the drug proceeds. Over the course of a year, law enforcement made more than nine undercover purchases from the group, yielding hundreds of grams of nearly pure methamphetamine. In October 2021, law enforcement officers arrested the defendants and executed a search warrant at Deleon, III’s house resulting in the additional seizure of multiple firearms.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
Lakeview Man Going to Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Daniel Fitzpatrick, 36, of Lakeview, NY, who was convicted of distribution of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 156 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who handled the case, stated that in October 2021, Fitzpatrick, using the display name “back2school” and username “bttm4anon,” shared a link containing multiple images of child pornography in a public chat room on the Kik Messenger application titled “Join a boys only group.” In April 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Fitzpatrick’s residence in Lake View. Child pornography images were located on a cell phone a laptop computer, and a personal computer. A total of 148 images and 108 videos of child pornography were recovered, some of which depicted a prepubescent minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger, and the Hamburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Dienes.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Improve Public Sidewalk Accessibility for People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department filed a proposed stipulated order that will require the Municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico, to take critical steps towards making its public sidewalk system accessible to individuals with disabilities. The proposed order was filed jointly with the municipality and private plaintiffs and pauses the department’s lawsuit against the municipality while requiring it to conduct a comprehensive assessment of sidewalk accessibility and to begin fixing accessibility barriers. The lawsuit alleges that San Juan has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) by failing to provide people with disabilities equal access to the municipality’s sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks and other pedestrian facilities.
“City sidewalks must be accessible so that people with disabilities can equally participate in community life and enjoy the many benefits that come from being able to safely navigate city streets and sidewalks,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This stipulated order puts San Juan on the path to making its public sidewalks accessible and we will continue working with San Juan to ensure it follows that path to its conclusion and achieves full program access.”
“We are heartened by San Juan’s willingness to commit significant resources to start addressing the accessibility of its public sidewalk system,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “The municipality’s investment and ongoing efforts will benefit all of its citizens and will help ensure that people with disabilities who live in or visit San Juan can enjoy all that the city has to offer.”
Under the proposed order, which requires court approval, San Juan will hire an outside accessibility consultant to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the municipality’s public sidewalk system to identify barriers to people with mobility disabilities. San Juan will also create a process for individuals to report barriers and to request installation or repair of curb ramps or sidewalks. The information gathered through the assessment and barrier reporting process will provide the basis for the parties to negotiate a final resolution of the lawsuit.
In addition, San Juan will provide training on the ADA Accessibility Standards to municipal employees who supervise construction, repair, or maintenance work related to the public sidewalk system. San Juan will retain independent licensed architects and engineers to verify that any construction or alterations related to the public sidewalk system comply with the ADA Accessibility Standards. Whenever the municipality repaves or resurfaces roads, it will provide compliant curb ramps at any intersection with a sidewalk. San Juan will also post its ADA Notice, ADA Grievance Procedure, and ADA Coordinator contact information in an accessible format on the municipality’s website.
This matter is being handled by the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto.
The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report.
Investment Firm Operator Charged with Running $100 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT - The operator of a supposed foreign exchange trading firm has been charged with running a Ponzi scheme which obtained $100 million from investors, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.
Darren Anthony Robinson, 53, a U.S. citizen who has operated out of the country of Panama, was charged in a criminal complaint with committing wire fraud. Robinson appeared today in federal court in Detroit to make his initial appearance.
According to the complaint, which was unsealed today, Robinson operated a supposed trading firm known as “QYU,” which was located in Panama and the Cayman Islands. QYU represented to investors that it was consistently generating stellar investment results. For example, in one QYU document, the firm claimed that a $100,000 investment into its fund in 2014 would have grown to over $2 million by 2021. That same document claimed the fund did not have a single losing month over that same period. QYU investors were promised guaranteed returns and told the firm was only paid on trading profits, not investor principal.
The complaint alleges that QYU was simply a Ponzi scheme. Investor funds were largely not used for trading activity. Instead, new investor funds were used to pay other investor distributions, cover QYU business expenses, compensate QYU employees, and fund Robinson’s lifestyle. QYU investors were provided with false account statements and fictious trading data. The complaint indicates that QYU obtained an estimated $100 million from investors.
“The complaint alleges a brazen investment fraud that victimized investors around the world. My office will work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those who defraud others and undermine the financial system,” said U.S. Attorney Ison.
“This defendant allegedly orchestrated a large-scale, multimillion dollar Ponzi scheme with victims across the globe,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “Investment fraud can be crippling for its victims, and the FBI is committed to identifying and working with anyone impacted by this scheme.”
"Illegal activity involving the investment industry, especially Ponzi schemes, has brought financial ruin to many Americans, said Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to work with our law enforcement partners, using our financial investigative expertise to help put a stop to this and other types of white-collar crime in Michigan."
Law enforcement has identified many apparent QYU investors from southeast Michigan. Potential victims are encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at www.fbi.gov/QYU_holdings_victims (Please note that the link to the website is case sensitive).
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigation is completed, a determination will be made whether to seek a felony indictment on the charges brought in the complaint. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The defendant faces up to twenty years in prison on the charge of wire fraud.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan thanks the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey for its assistance in this matter.
robinson_complaint.pdfIndy Drug Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Trafficking of Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Antwann Tigner, 34, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers observed Tigner conduct drug transactions on multiple occasions in April 2021 at his Indianapolis residence. On April 29, 2021, IMPD officers executed a search warrant at Tigner’s residence. As officers approached the porch where Tigner was sitting, he ran inside the home and through the back door. While inside the home, officers located a camouflage bag that contained a loaded .38 Special revolver and assorted ammunition. Within feet of the revolver, officers located a digital scale, plastic baggies, and a Pyrex measuring cup with drug residue.
Investigators located Tigner in the downstairs bathroom with his hands shoved in the toilet, attempting to flush baggies of drugs. Once Tigner was placed in custody, the officers found methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl in several bags in the toilet. The bags contained a total of over 49 grams of fentanyl, 229.73 grams of methamphetamine, and 37 grams of cocaine. Investigators also located a total of $50,186 in drug proceeds and a stolen, loaded firearm in the upstairs bathroom.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. 6 out of 10 illegal fentanyl tablets sold on U.S. streets now contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, and IMPD Chief Randall Taylor made the announcement.
“Drug dealers do not care about the well-being of people who use controlled substances. They will lace their drugs with poisonous levels of dangerous substances to make more money at the expense of human life,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “It is our responsibility as federal law enforcement officials to attack the drug overdose epidemic head-on by identifying and prosecuting those who are funneling this poison into our communities. Our office will continue to work alongside ATF and IMPD to do just that.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Tigner be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lindsay Karwoski, who prosecuted this case.
One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.
Hamden Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RASHAWN SAMMS, 30, of Hamden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 4, 2022, New Haven Police officers arrested Samms on state charges after he conducted a hand-to-hand drug transaction from his car and officers found him in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, distribution quantities of cocaine, crack, fentanyl, and marijuana; two digital scales; and $628 in cash.
Analysis of the seized handgun, which was not registered to Samms, revealed that it had been purchased at a pawn shop in South Carolina in November 2018, and had been used in two shots-fired incidents in Hartford in 2021.
On April 3, 2023, Samms pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Samms has been detained since that date.
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara E. Levens through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.
PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Fourth Circuit Upholds Former Tabor City Doctor's Conviction for Operating a Pill MillRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A three-judge panel from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous, published opinion affirming former physician Jong Whan Kim’s conviction and sentence for operating a pill mill in Tabor City. The Fourth Circuit’s decision was the first published opinion by the Court upholding a physician’s conviction for unlawful prescribing of opioids and other controlled substances since the Supreme Court decided Ruan v. United States, 142 S. Ct. 2370 (2022), which made it more difficult for the government to convict physicians for unlawful prescribing.
“Kim abused his trust and authority as a physician by writing illegitimate prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances, and in doing so, placed his patients and children at a local elementary school at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “The Fourth Circuit’s ruling reaffirms that doctors may not abuse their authority to write prescriptions for controlled substances by knowingly issuing prescriptions outside the scope of legitimate medical practice. Our commitment to prosecuting physicians and other prescribers who operate pill mills in Eastern North Carolina remains steadfast.”
On December 8, 2021, Kim, 76, pled guilty to conspiring with his office assistant, Tammy Thompson, to unlawfully dispense and distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone, and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846; to multiple counts of unlawful dispensing and distribution of oxycodone, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841; and to distribution of marijuana and aiding and abetting, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) & 18 U.S.C. § 2. The district court sentenced Kim to 78 months in prison.
Kim’s misconduct dates to March 2017, when he was forced to resign from his medical practice due to concerns over his opioid prescribing practices. Soon thereafter, Kim opened a clinic in Tabor City. Over the next year, Kim unlawfully prescribed opioids and other controlled substances to “patients” who paid $200 in cash at each appointment. The investigation revealed that Kim often failed to comply with basic standards of legitimate medical practice. He wrote controlled substance prescriptions to virtually every patient he saw, often in the face of evidence of patient misuse and diversion. A confidential informant (“CI”) obtained opioid prescriptions from Kim on twelve occasions. On one occasion, he obtained marijuana from Kim’s office manager at the same time he obtained a prescription from Kim, and paid Kim for the marijuana. On another occasion, Kim wrote the CI a prescription after the CI asked for a higher dosage so he could sell more pills on the street. On a third occasion, the office manager told the CI, in Kim’s presence, that Kim was willing to trade work for prescriptions. In total, Kim dispensed more than two million doses of addictive prescription medications.
Kim’s clinic was located just steps from Tabor City Elementary School. Patients seeking controlled substances often loitered near the school, which created safety concerns. As the Fourth Circuit noted, the school was forced to cancel recess due to activity at Kim’s clinic, and the school was locked down more than once.
In affirming Kim’s conviction and sentence, the Fourth Circuit wrote that a “mountain of circumstantial evidence le[ft] little doubt” that Kim subjectively intended to prescribe opioids and other controlled substances outside the bounds of legitimate medical practice.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the Fourth Circuit’s decision. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Charlotte Tactical Diversion Squad, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, DECU investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nick Miller, Bryan Stephany and Tim Severo prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Bragdon and Andrew Kasper represented the United States before the Fourth Circuit.
The Fourth Circuit’s complete opinion in United States v. Kim can be found here.
A copy of this press release may be found on our website.
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Former Massachusetts Town Official Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Rhode IslandRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A former chairperson of the Board of Tax Assessors for the Town of Dedham, MA, pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island today to a charge of wire fraud, admitting that, while serving as a Dedham town official, real estate broker, tax preparer, and property manager for the River Island Condominium Association in Woonsocket, RI, she devised a scheme to access nearly $50,000 in Association funds for her own personal use, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Cheryl S. Sullivan, 68, of Dedham, MA, admitted that she used an Association debit card fifty-eight times to withdraw cash between January and November 2019, when she visited the Plainfield Park Casino in Plainfield, MA.
Casino records reflect that from January 4, 2019, to November 19, 2019, Sullivan gambled at the casino 176 times, almost every day. Bank records associated with the Condominium Association’s account reflect that there were sixty ATM withdrawals made from the account during the relevant time frame, of which fifty-eight of those occurred at the casino. The withdrawals occurred on multiple dates that Sullivan’s personal debit card had been used at the casino to attempt to withdraw cash from her own account but was declined. The condo association debit card was then immediately used to withdraw cash.
An investigation by the FBI, and the Plainville, MA, and Woonsocket, RI, Police Departments determined that Sullivan defrauded the Condo Association of a total of $49,156, of which, to date, nearly half has been paid back to the Association by the defendant.
Sullivan is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2023. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
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Former Department of Energy Employee Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes from Long Island Businessman in Exchange for Nearly $1 Million in Federal ContractsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Jami Anthony, the former Small Business Program Liaison and Procurement Officer for a Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory based in Virginia, pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging her with receiving bribes as a federal official in connection with a scheme to pay her more than $18,000 in exchange for more than $900,000 in DOE contracts. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Anne Y. Shields. When sentenced, Anthony faces up to 15 years in prison. As part of her guilty plea, Anthony agreed to forfeit approximately $18,800.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Teri L. Donaldson, Inspector General, DOE, announced the guilty plea.
“Motivated by greed, Anthony’s actions betrayed the Department of Energy and resulted in the purchase of electronic components that caused major fire damage to a government laboratory,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Corruption undermines the integrity of competitive bidding in the procurement process and will be aggressively prosecuted.”
Mr. Peace thanked the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, for its work on the case.
Teri L. Donaldson, the Department of Energy Inspector General said, “Bribing public officials is terrible behavior. Taking bribes when working as a public official representing the U.S government is even worse. We simply will not tolerate these betrayals of the public’s trust. We will continue to work with our partners at the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices to detect such behaviors and bring those involved to justice.”
Between approximately December 2017 and December 2020, Michael Montenes, the owner of M.S. Hi-Tech, Incorporated (MSHT), a Hauppauge-based distributor of electronic components, paid Anthony approximately $18,800 in bribes to induce her to enter into contracts for electronic components that MSHT supplied to the DOE’s Virginia laboratory. Montenes mailed these payments, which ranged from $500 to $7,200, from Long Island to Anthony in Virginia. In exchange for the bribes, Anthony awarded MSHT contracts worth more than $900,000, which represented 95% of all of MSHT’s sales to the DOE’s Virginia laboratory. In July 2021, some of the electronic components that Anthony procured from MSHT for DOE based upon Montenes’s bribes failed and caused a fire, resulting in approximately $1.8 million in repairs and other costs to DOE.
In May 2023, Montenes pleaded guilty to bribing Anthony. He also faces up to 15 years in prison. As part of his guilty plea, Montenes agreed to forfeit approximately $969,000 and to pay DOE more than $1.8 million in restitution.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Bradley T. King is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
JAMI ANTHONY
Age: 47
Hayes, VirginiaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-229 (JS)
Florida Attorney Deported to the United States After Being Charged with Sexually Abusing Children in CambodiaRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return from Cambodia of Rugh James Cline (40, Tampa) for his first appearance after being charged in a federal indictment with five counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count of possessing child sex abuse materials. If convicted, Cline faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for possessing child sex abuse materials. Cline made his initial appearance in federal court on June 7, 2023, in Tampa. On June 26, 2023, a bond hearing was held, and Cline was released on GPS monitoring, home detention, and a $100,000 signature bond. Cline is also not allowed to have access to the internet or to minors while on home detention.
According to the indictment, in February and May 2019, Cline, a U.S. citizen and Florida-licensed attorney living in Tampa, traveled to Cambodia. While in Cambodia, he paid to engage in sexual conduct on multiple occasions with four minors. The indictment also charges Cline with having traveled from the Middle District of Florida to Cambodia while knowingly possessing materials depicting the sexual abuse of young children.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Department of State and the Cambodian National Police. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Federal Inmate Sentenced to an Additional 10 Years in Prison for Threatening Federal Prosecutor and U.S. District JudgeRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas– A 58-year-old federal inmate has been sentenced for threatening a federal prosecutor and United States district judge, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
Kevin Dean Riedle was sentenced to an additional 120 months in federal prison for retaliating against a United States judge and a federal law enforcement officer.
According to information presented in court, Riedle was previously convicted and sentenced in the Northern District of Texas for transporting and shipping child pornography. In 2022, while serving time in federal prison in Loretto, PA, Riedle mailed multiple letters to the Assistant United States Attorney who prosecuted him and to the United States district judge who sentenced him. In these letters, Riedle threatened, in gruesome detail, to violently murder the prosecutor, the judge, and their families in retaliation for his previous conviction and sentence.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service and prosecuted by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Taylor.
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Federal Grand Jury B Indictments Announced - June 2023Read the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the June 2023 Federal Grand Jury B.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Coby Dale Green. Malicious Use of Explosive Materials. Coby Dale Green, 24, is charged with malicious use of explosive materials after he, on or about Oct. 31, allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail into the Donut Hole donut shop located at 3305 South Peoria Avenue. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigating agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Nassar and Nathan E. Michel are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-209
Lorenzo David Richey. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Lorenzo David Richey, 26, is charged with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender from on or about Dec. 5, 2022.The U.S. Marshals Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-210
Gerardo Alejandro Castro-Reyes. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Gerardo Alejandro Castro-Reyes, 46, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on or about June 7, 2022, at or near Laredo Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-208
Jose Luis Moreno-Yanez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Jose Luis Moreno-Yanez, 46, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been deported and removed therefrom on or about Dec. 13, 2021, at or near Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-211
Ex-Norman Car Dealership Executive Pleads Guilty to Tampering with Court ProceedingsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – United States Attorney Robert J. Troester announced that BOBBY CHRIS MAYES, 50, of Norman, pleaded guilty last Friday to two counts of tampering with official proceedings.
Public records reflect that Mayes was the former owner of the Big Red Dealerships (Big Red Sports/Imports, Big Red Kia, Norman Yamaha, Norman Mitsubishi, and Mayes Kia). On November 19, 2021, Mayes was convicted along with two co-defendants, including Courtney Dawn Wells, by a federal jury in Western District of Oklahoma Case Number CR-20-240-F. At that nearly three-week trial, Mayes was convicted of conspiring to commit wire fraud, 12 counts of wire fraud, six counts of uttering forged securities, and aggravated identity theft. Mayes is awaiting sentencing in that case.
Mayes was later indicted based on allegations that, from April through October of 2022, he tampered with the official proceedings in Case Number CR-20-240-F. More specifically, the indictment alleged Mayes orchestrated and helped to secure the unavailability of a key participant in the proceeding, fabricated e-mails and other evidence in an effort to secure a new trial in that prior case, and sent an anonymous e-mail to the Court as part of an effort to obtain a new trial in Case Number CR-20-240-F.
On June 23, 2023, Mayes appeared before United States District Court Judge Stephen Friot and pleaded guilty to two counts of tampering with official proceedings, pursuant to a plea agreement with the government. At the plea hearing, Mayes admitted he had helped to convince co-defendant Courtney Wells to flee to Mexico while they were awaiting sentencing and that he provided financial support for her flight. Wells and her companion, Brandon Landers, were later located in Mexico and returned to the United States. Landers was indicted and pleaded guilty on December 6, 2022, to conspiring to tamper with official proceedings based on his involvement in helping Wells flee to Mexico. Both Landers and Wells are awaiting sentencing in their respective cases.
At the plea hearing, Mayes also admitted he had sent an anonymous e-mail to the Court and others in early October 2022, in which he made untrue allegations about government conduct, in an effort to interfere with the ongoing proceedings. That anonymous e-mail was later used to attempt to delay certain parts of the case.
With each count of tampering with Court proceedings, Mayes faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Mayes now awaits sentencing to be set at a later date for his fraud-related convictions and for the plea to tampering with Court proceedings.
This case is the result of an investigation by FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Snyder and Jacquelyn Hutzell are prosecuting the case.
Convicted Felon Is Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nike Apollo Perry, 30, of Mount Holly, N.C., was sentenced to 84 months in prison today for possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Terry Burgin, United States Marshal of the United States Marshals Service for the Western District of North Carolina, and Jamaal Thompson, Chief Inspector of the United States Marshals Service, Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, on May 17, 2022, the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force (CRFTF) coordinated the arrest of Perry, who had outstanding arrest warrants for a federal supervised release violation and four felony state law violations. CRFTF members located Perry in Charlotte, and with the assistance of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) Aviation Unit conducted surveillance of Perry’s vehicle. Over the course of the surveillance, court records show that law enforcement observed Perry park his vehicle at an apartment complex in Charlotte. CRFTF members approached Perry and ordered him to step out of the vehicle. Perry was arrested at the scene without incident. At the time of the arrest, Perry was wearing a bulletproof vest.
According to court records, CRFTF members conducted a search of Perry’s vehicle and located a loaded semi-automatic pistol with a round loaded in the chamber and an attached 40-round magazine. Perry has a prior federal conviction for illegal gun possession and state convictions for second-degree murder and assault inflicting seriously bodily injury. As a result of those convictions, Perry is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Perry is currently in federal custody. He will be returned to state custody to serve the remainder of his felony assault sentence and then be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the United States Marshals Service and the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force for their investigation of the case and CMPD for their assistance with Perry’s arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Connecticut Sex Offender Sentenced to 327 Months for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – David Feeney, age 57, of Bristol, Connecticut, was sentenced today to 327 months in prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Feeney admitted that between March and April 2022, he exchanged sexually explicit messages online with people he believed were a father and a 10-year-old child, in an attempt to entice the child into engaging in sexual acts with him. Feeney also admitted that on April 24, 2022, he traveled from Connecticut and arrived unannounced at a residence in Albany County, New York, with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the 10-year-old child. Feeney was arrested by law enforcement shortly after arriving at the location. Feeney was a registered sex offender at the time of the offense; he had raped a child he had met online in 2011.
Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a life term of post-imprisonment supervised release.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department and New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Chesapeake Man Pleads Guilty to Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking a minor.
According to court documents, in September 2022, Denzel Akeem Loftin, 32, began chatting with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 17-year-old girl living in Pennsylvania. Loftin said he was a pimp and proposed that the girl come to Virginia to work for him. The next month, he posted advertisements for her on online sex trafficking sites. Then, in October 2022, the FBI learned of a 14-year-old missing child from Colorado who had been located in sex trafficking advertisements in the Hampton Roads area. Law enforcement set up a “date” for commercial sex with the 14-year-old and another juvenile. Loftin was observed with the girl and two other female individuals immediately before the appointment. One of the other individuals was identified as a missing 17-year-old from Missouri. A review of seized electronic devices revealed that Loftin not only sex-trafficked the minor but himself engaged in a sex act with the 17-year-old.
Loftin is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2023. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and maximum penalty of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Rebecca Gantt is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-44.
Chesapeake Man Pleads Guilty to Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking a minor.
According to court documents, in September 2022, Denzel Akeem Loftin, 32, began chatting with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 17-year-old girl living in Pennsylvania. Loftin said he was a pimp and proposed that the girl come to Virginia to work for him. The next month, he posted advertisements for her on online sex trafficking sites. Then, in October 2022, the FBI learned of a 14-year-old missing child from Colorado who had been located in sex trafficking advertisements in the Hampton Roads area. Law enforcement set up a “date” for commercial sex with the 14-year-old and another juvenile. Loftin was observed with the girl and two other female individuals immediately before the appointment. One of the other individuals was identified as a missing 17-year-old from Missouri. A review of seized electronic devices revealed that Loftin not only sex-trafficked the minor but himself engaged in a sex act with the 17-year-old.
Loftin is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2023. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and maximum penalty of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Rebecca Gantt is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-44.
Central Valley Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Prison for $9 Million Cow Manure Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Ray Brewer, 66, of Porterville, and Sheridan, Montana, was sentenced today to six years and nine months in prison for running a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme where he purported to turn cow manure into green energy, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court records, from March 2014 through December 2019, Brewer stole $8,750,000 from investors by claiming to build anaerobic digesters on dairies in Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties, as well as other counties in California and Idaho. Anaerobic digesters are large machines that use microorganisms to break down biodegradable material and turn it into methane. The methane can then be sold on the open market as green energy. The methane also produces Renewable Energy Credits (REC), which represent the property right to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions achieved through green energy creation. RECs are commonly purchased by companies to meet green energy regulatory, contractual, and initiative requirements or commitments. Brewer’s investors were supposed to receive 66% of all net profits as well as tax incentives.
Brewer made various misrepresentations to his investors. Brewer took investors on tours of dairies where he said that he was going to build the digesters and sent them forged lease agreements with the dairy owners. He also sent the investors altered agreements with banks that made it appear as though he had obtained millions of dollars in loans to build the digesters. Moreover, he sent the investors forged contracts with multinational companies that made it appear as though he had secured revenue streams. Finally, he sent the investors fake pictures of the digesters under construction. None of this was true.
Fake digester picture sent to investors
After Brewer received the investors’ money, he transferred the funds to multiple other bank accounts that he opened in the names of different entities, his family members, and an alias. He used false descriptions for the transfers. He did so to conceal the location, source, ownership, and control of the money before using it for personal expenditures. These expenditures included two plots of land that were 10 or more acres each, a 3,700 square foot custom home, and new Dodge Ram pickup trucks.
Brewer subsequently told his investors that the digesters were progressing when that was not the case. He did so by sending them fake documents: construction schedules, invoices for project-related costs, power generation reports, RECs, and pictures.
In some instances, Brewer purported to refund investors all or some of their money. The refunds, however, came from newly received money from other investors who had not authorized Brewer to use their money in this way. When Brewer’s investors realized the fraud and obtained civil judgments against him, he moved to Montana and assumed a new identity.
Upon his arrest, Brewer told officers that they had the wrong man. He also claimed to have been in the Navy and recalled how he once saved several soldiers during a fire by blocking the flames with his body so that they could escape. Brewer has since admitted that these were both lies meant to curry favor with law enforcement.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph D. Barton, Henry Z. Carbajal III, and Alyson A. Berg prosecuted the case.
Canadian Man Sentenced to Lengthy Federal Prison Sentence for Scheme to Operate Illicit Online Gift Card MarketplaceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Richard Verret, age 41, of Quebec, Canada, to 57 months in federal prison following his conviction for operating a scheme to sell more than 500,000 stolen gift card account numbers over the internet. The Court also ordered Verret to forfeit more than $810,000 in proceeds from his crime.
In March 2022, after a multi-year investigation into Verret’s online criminal activity, a federal grand jury in Baton Rouge returned a six-count indictment charging Verret with the unauthorized solicitation of access devices and trafficking counterfeit access devices. On April 7, 2022, Verret was arrested at the Orlando International Airport after arriving in the United States from Canada. He was later transported to the Middle District of Louisiana to face the charges.
In September 2022, Verret pled guilty to the unauthorized solicitation of access devices. As he admitted in connection with his guilty plea, from 2018 through early 2022, he operated a series of websites, such as the “Lux Giftcards Shop” and “Miami’s Gift Card Shop,” through which he advertised the sale of gift cards for major restaurant chains, grocery stores, entertainment venues, and other retail business chains (collectively, the “businesses”). Many of the businesses whose gift cards were advertised on Verret’s websites had locations across Louisiana.
According to admissions made during his plea, Verret would use fraudulent methods and theft to obtain large quantities of valid gift card account numbers. Then, using various means to conceal his identity and avoid detection, Verret would sell the account numbers over the internet, offering the numbers for sale at steep discounts. Upon placing an order, a purchaser would generally receive instructions via e-mail directing him or her to send payment to a PayPal account controlled by the defendant, and after doing so, the purchaser would receive an e-mail containing account numbers for the gift cards that he or she had just purchased.
As of late February 2022, Verret’s then-current website offered more than 550,000 gift cards to more than 500 different businesses, and the total stored value of all of the fraudulently obtained accounts offered for sale was more than $22 million. The site advertised that it was adding more gift cards “every week.”
At today’s sentencing, Chief Judge Dick sentenced Verret to serve 57 months in federal prison and forfeit $812,893.60. In the event that Verret is deported from the United States following the completion of his federal prison sentence, he will be barred from re-entering the United States absent advance, formal approval. In addition, in connection with this case, the United States has also seized two of the domain names used by Verret in furtherance of his criminal activity, “www.miami24k.com” and www.miami.gift.
U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “This case is a prime example of the length criminals are prepared to go to defraud victims. This scheme, if not caught, was well on its way to surpassing record gains for the defendant and record loss that injures both the purchaser and the advertised companies. Thank you to my entire team who worked with not only our local federal, city and state partners but also international partners as well. This should be a lesson to us all to be more cautious with providing our account information online. Please protect yourself by doing your research and if something seems suspicious or questionable, please notify the local authorities.”
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—Homeland Security Investigations, in close collaboration with the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. The investigation received substantial assistance from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Quebec Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alan A. Stevens, who also serves as Senior Litigation Counsel, and Assistant United States Attorneys Brad Casey and Harley W. Ferguson.
CEO of Education Company Sentenced for Causing Nearly $105M in Losses to Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
An Idaho man was sentenced today to five years in prison for his role in defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit program, in the department’s largest Post-9/11 GI Bill fraud case.
According to court documents, Michael Bostock, 54, of Nampa, was the founder and CEO of California Technical Academy (CTA), a VA-approved school that offered technical training programs at three locations near Los Angeles and San Diego. From January 2012 through June 2022, Bostock and his co-conspirators made false and fraudulent representations to the VA regarding, among other things, veterans’ enrollment in approved courses of study, class attendance, and grades. Bostock and his co-conspirators also falsified course completion records to make it appear as if enrolled veterans completed their programs, when in fact, they had not. In order to conceal their scheme, Bostock and his co-conspirators falsified veterans’ contact information by substituting phone numbers that Bostock and his co-conspirators controlled to ensure that regulators could not contact the veterans. When regulators called the falsified phone numbers to obtain information about the school, Bostock and his co-conspirators impersonated students.
During the fraud scheme, the school received more than $32 million in tuition payments for approximately 1,793 veteran enrollees. During the same period, veterans enrolled in CTA’s VA-approved courses received over $72 million in education-related government benefits. In total, Bostock’s and his co-conspirators’ scheme to defraud the VA resulted in a total loss of nearly $105 million in government funds.
Co-defendants Eric Bostock and Philip Abod are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 19 for their roles in the scheme. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal made the announcement.
The VA Office of Inspector General investigated the case, with assistance from the Veterans Benefits Administration-Education Service.
Trial Attorneys Lauren Archer and Christina McGill of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Browning man admits shooting, wounding man during argumentRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man admitted today that he shot another man during an argument in Browning on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Johnathan Charles Gifford Oldchief, 24, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Oldchief faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault crimes and a mandatory minimum five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm crime.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Nov. 16. Oldchief was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on April 7, Oldchief spent the evening drinking heavily with others. Shortly after midnight, five persons left the house in a vehicle driven by Oldchief. After driving less than two blocks, Oldchief and the victim, identified as John Doe, got into a verbal argument. Oldchief stopped driving and another person intervened to keep the two from coming to blows. Oldchief ordered Doe out of the vehicle. Doe complied, and another person also got out. After driving a short distance, Oldchief stopped the vehicle. Removing a pistol from near the console, Oldchief got out, approached Doe, racked the pistol and shot him point blank one time. Oldchief returned to his car and left the scene. Others called emergency services. Doe was flown to a hospital in Great Falls where he underwent lifesaving surgery. Law enforcement recovered a live round and a spent shell casing from the scene. Officers also recovered a 9mm magazine in a search of the vehicle. The bullet and a description of the gun matched a 9mm pistol that Oldchief bought in February.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement conducted the investigation.
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